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Matthew Francis and Deborah Bankole: Welsh Poetic Vision and Jazz Reimagined

St David’s Day poetry and Welsh inspiration with Matthew Francis, plus fresh jazz perspectives and creative insights from Southbank Centre producer Deborah Bankole.

Cerys is joined by poet and scholar Matthew Francis for a St David’s Day dive into the rich imaginative world of Welsh poetry, exploring how centuries‑old verse continues to shape today’s writing and the ways we celebrate Wales’ storytelling traditions.

She also welcomes Deborah Bankole, cultural curator and programme producer for the Southbank Centre x Montreux Jazz Festival Residency, to discuss fresh perspectives on what jazz means today, the communities shaping it, and the creative ideas behind this year’s residency and the upcoming Meltdown Festival.

Plus, a special voice note from legendary Greek singer Maria Farantouri, sharing her reflections as she honours 100 years of Mikis Theodorakis and the enduring power of his music and activism.

Cerys brings it all together with hand‑picked favourites from her classic shelves and standout new discoveries.

Produced by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music.

Available now

3 hours

Last on

Sun 1 Mar 202610:00
BBC Radio 6 Music

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Music Played

  • Cheikh Lô

    Degg Gui

    • Wagram Music.

  • Mikis Theodorakis

    Margarita Margaro

    • Theodorakis Sings Theodorakis.
    • intuition.
    • 9.

  • Crasdant

    Pibddawns Trefynwy

    • The Welsh Gold Collection: Heartstrings.
    • Australian Broadcasting Corp (ABC).
    • 1.

  • Carwyn Ellis & Rio 18 & BBC National Orchestra of Wales

    Olá!

    • Yn Rio.
    • Légère Records.

  • Swamp Dogg, John Prine & Jenny Lewis

    The Kneeling Drunkard's Plea

    • Swamp Dogg.

  • The Louvin Brothers

    Cash On The Barrelhead

    • Complete Recorded Works: 1952 - 1962.
    • Enlightenment.
    • 111.

  • Tom T. Hall

    A Week In A Country Jail

    • Tom T. Hall's Greatest Hits.
    • Mercury Nashville.
    • 9.

  • Mexican Institute of Sound & Meridian Brothers

    Cumbia fantasia

    • Ansonia Records.

  • Courtney Barnett

    Mantis

    • Mom + Pop.

  • Mikis Theodorakis

    Horos Tou Zorba

    • Instrumental Hits.
    • FM Records.
    • 1.

  • Mikis Thedorakis

    Prodomeni Agapi (feat. Αφροδίτη Μάνου)

    • Mikis Theodorakis Concert 4.
    • Galata.
    • 9.

  • Marvin Muoneke & Alex Webb

    Forbidden Fruit

    • Alexander Webb.

  • Miles Davis

    Watermelon Man

    • The Lost Concert.
    • Sleepy Night Records.
    • 2.

  • Porter Wagoner

    Green, Green Grass of Home

    • The Essential Porter Wagoner.
    • RLG/Legacy.
    • 2.

  • Peggy Lee

    Nine Thorny Thickets

    • The Best of Peggy Lee.
    • Cayo Records.
    • 14.

  • Trad., Ensemble Belladonna, Susanne Ansorg, Miriam Andersén & Rebecca Bain

    Miri It Is While Sumer Ilast

    • Raumklang.

  • Gerald Finzi, Bryn Terfel & Malcolm Martineau

    Let Us Garlands Bring, Op. 18: Come Away, Death

    • Universal Classics & Jazz.

  • Héctor Lavoe, Willie Colón & Yomo Toro

    Introducción

    • Asalto Navideño: Vol. 1 & 2.
    • Fania.
    • 1.

  • Héctor Lavoe & Willie Colón

    Popurrí Navideño (Remastered 2025)

    • Asalto Navideño (Remastered 2025).
    • Craft Recordings.
    • 3.

  • Willie Colón & Héctor Lavoe

    Eso Se Baila Así

    • Crime Pays.
    • Fania.
    • 9.

  • Kwes.

    Black (Grey)

    • Kinds.
    • Warp.

  • Debbie

    The Rain Isn't Over

    • Iyanu Records.

  • Camilla George

    The People Could Fly

    • Camilla George.

  • Nina Simone

    Backlash Blues (Live - Montreux Jazz Festival 1968)

    • Nina Simone: The Montreux Years (Live).
    • BMG Rights Management (UK) Ltd..
    • 23.

  • Children of Zeus

    Balance (feat. Akemi Fox & Georgie Sweet)

    • Balance (Clean Version).
    • First Word Records.
    • 7.

  • Miles Davis & Milt Jackson

    Bags' Groove (Take 1)

    • Miles Davis & Milt Jackson. Complete Recordings.
    • Efor, S.L.
    • 1.

  • D’Angelo

    Spanish Joint

    • Voodoo.
    • Virgin Records.
    • 9.

  • Ramzi Hammad

    Cross Rhythms

    • Vis Viva Entertainment.

  • Meredydd Evans

    Si Hei Lwli

    • Traditional Welsh Songs (Remastered).
    • Tradition Records.
    • 22.

  • Steven Price

    They Work As A Team (From Our Planet)

    • Frozen Worlds (Episode 2 / Soundtrack From The Netflix Original Series \"Our Pla.
    • Decca (UMO) (Classics).
    • 4.

  • Lady Nade

    Sober

    • Nadine Gingell.

  • Gary Stewart

    Sweet Country Red

    • The Essential Gary Stewart.
    • RLG/Legacy.
    • 7.

  • Ags Connolly

    Men Like Me Can Fly

    • Alex Connolly.

  • Wednesday

    Elderberry Wine

    • Elderberry Wine.
    • Dead Oceans.
    • 1.

  • Ebo Taylor

    Peace On Earth

    • Life Stories.
    • K7 Music GmbH.

Broadcast

  • Sun 1 Mar 202610:00
    BBC Radio 6 Music